It's been well over a year in the works, but the new transwarp drive that has been so painstakingly installed on the U.S.S. Vanguard is almost ready to be tested. Invented by a Bajoran team lead by Professor Sizaen Yatri, the drive has been in development for the past five years, much of that time heavily classified. Professor Sizaen herself is overseeing the installation, and all non-essential personnel are on extended shore leave while the new engines are being fine tuned. Captain <name> has been assigned administrative duties in San Fransisco at the Academy while waiting for the the first test voyage of the new drive.

The tests are being kept secret, though there are bound to be some civilians that are aware of them, until the new engines can be thoroughly tested and have been given the seal of approval for installation in the new Athena-class vessels that are already in design.